Stagg eventually succumbs to press

STOCKTON - After 10 lead changes Friday night, Fair Oaks-Bella Vista was not going to allow an 11th.

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By Dave Campbell

recordnet.com

By Dave Campbell

Posted Feb. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Dave Campbell
Posted Feb. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - After 10 lead changes Friday night, Fair Oaks-Bella Vista was not going to allow an 11th.

In a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I girls basketball outbracket game with host Stagg, neither team had led by more than three points going into the final quarter. Teryn Jackson hit one of her two fourth-quarter 3-pointers with 3:15 left in the game to give the Broncos a two-point lead before Bella Vista went into a full-court press, frustrating the Delta Queens to advance to the main playoff bracket with a 54-48 win.

In the final 90 seconds of the game, five Stagg possessions ended in turnovers and the Delta Queens (13-15) could not manage one rebound.

"The press kind of messed with our rotation," Stagg coach Hung Nguyen said. "And they played better then we did down the stretch. Although they were taller, more experienced and more physical then we were, we gave them a good fight."

Jackson's second 3-pointer gave the Broncos (18-10) a five-point lead with 1:45 left in the game, and she made a steal on the next Delta Queen possession, one of three Bella Vista steals in a 30-second span.

"It was a great, upbeat game," said Jackson, who led all scorers with 20 points. "And we finally showed up in the fourth quarter to get the win."

The Delta Queens played phenomenal defense, forcing 33 turnovers and making 21 steals. And although Stagg gave up a lot of height, both teams finished with 30 rebounds.

Veasna Samol was the main force behind the Stagg defense, making four of her team-high six steals in the first quarter. Samol shared team high-point honors with Mia Gonzalez at 14 points each with teammate Miranda Miner adding 10.

Samol was proud to be on the first Stagg team to make the playoffs since the 2007-08 season.

"It has been a long time since we have been in the playoffs," Samol said. "And we improved a lot this year. I am happy to have played for Stagg. This shows that we can be a playoff team and that we have potential."

Bella Vista coach Gwyn Jackson thought that her pressure late in the game would cause Stagg problems.

"That was a little too close for my comfort," Jackson said. "We went into that press because we hadn't pressured the ball the whole game and I told the girls it was time to force Stagg to make some mistakes."